Asian Studies

The Asian studies minor is an interdisciplinary program that especially complements majors in political science, modern languages, history, English and creative writing, business, communications, religion, philosophy, and international studies. The program encourages comparison of various Asian cultures with each other rather than with other continents. In offering courses that urge students to initiate an in-depth study of Asian culture, literatures, history, religion, philosophy, businesses, media practices, arts, and languages, the minor provides the foundation for graduate studies in Asian studies, careers in government, law, politics, or business, as well as a broader engagement with non-Western cultures.

Required Final Course. Minors are required to take a four credit final course that offers an exploration of broad comparative issues that relate to the region of Asia as a whole. HIST:354 Asian Culture or a course in Asian literature approved by the program coordinators will satisfy this requirement.

Study Tour or Practicum. Minors will also complete a Study Tour or practicum. All students will be encouraged to go on at least one of the study tours: study tour of China (two semester hours), study tour of India (two semester hours) or service learning to Philippines (two to four semester hours). Financial considerations might allow students to fulfill this requirement by doing a practicum for two semester hours instead, which includes working with local Asian communities; learning Asian dance, music, painting, calligraphy or the arts; working with Asian newspapers or newsletters. Students are encouraged to join existing classes offered by the local communities, but they must undertake at least fifty hours of intense learning or working experience that furthers their understanding of Asia.

Electives. Students will take a total of 16 elective semester hours. Not more than 8 semester hours may be taken at the 100-level and at least 4 semester hours must be taken at the 300 level. No more than four semester hours of language may be counted toward an elective.

At least 12 semester hours must be taken from the following courses exclusively on Asia:

CHEM:101 Beginning Chinese I

CHEM:102 Beginning Chinese I

Beginning Japanese I-II taken at Bucknell University

HIST:151 Traditional East Asia

HIST:152 Modern East Asia

ENGL:205 Literature Studies, with Indian Literature and Film as the topic

HIST:258 Modern China

RELI:321 Current Religious Issues, with Buddhism as the topic

HIST:355 Asia: Family and Gender

ENGL:365 Literature and Gender, with Asian Women’s Literature as the topic

Four semester hours may be taken in the following comparative courses:

POLI:121 Comparative Government and Politics

ENGL:205 Literature Studies, with Asian-American Literature as the topic

RELI:321 Current Religious Issues, with Asian Christianity as the topic

ENGL:355 Anglophone Writers, with Postcolonial Literature as the topic

HIST:339 America’s Wars in Asia

Minors are strongly encouraged to fulfill the university core language requirement with an Asian language and to continue the language study beyond the first year. Features of Chinese and Japanese culture are closely associated with the uniqueness of the language. (For example, the evolution of Chinese characters is directly connected to the evolution of Chinese culture.) This is a primary reason that we propose accepting 4 credits of language toward an elective. Chinese is currently offered at Susquehanna at both the 100 and 200 levels. In addition, students have the possibility of taking Japanese at Bucknell University. Students who wish to take another Asian language not offered at Susquehanna may satisfy this requirement by taking language classes through off-campus programs or summer language study programs that have been approved for Susquehanna credit.